Bocabar Finzels Reach, Bristol

A friend booked this place for a group dinner before I realised it was listed on PuG.A great description by Blackthorn nails the detail,primarily food focussed but no ploblem if you just want to drink.However tables will be booked for diners,which makes the large courtyard space outside an option in good weather. All very hip ,but just one of the handpumps was working,drawing Moor Revival.I had ordered wine before realising there was an ale option.The food was decent.

A new opening in the Finzel’s Reach development, this is a very modern interpretation of an old building and manages to blend both old and new together in a fairly harmonious way. In addition to this, there is a decent sized outside patio area for the warmer weather. Internally it’s all one large, open plan room and whilst there is plenty of exposed air conditioning ducting and cable trays on the ceiling, the ceiling itself has been painted black and this somehow blends in a little better than is often the case. Flooring is some type of concrete screed, whilst there was quite a bit of exposed brick walling, both some more modern internal walls and glimpses of some very old exterior walls including a brick arched window. Elsewhere, distressed wood cladding had been affixed to the walls. There were a few bits of artwork on the walls, much of it quite unusual consisting of paintings of animals dressed up in formal attire. These appeared to be for sale, although they weren’t really to my taste. Seating was a mixture of low Chesterfield sofa’s around the perimeter as well as regular tables and chairs and long bench style seating running parallel with the bar counter. Tassled lampshades were affixed to the light fittings, as seems to be popular in these lounge type establishments. Food is clearly something of a focus here with an open kitchen at the rear, a blackboard name checking local suppliers and a “Please wait to be seated” lectern just inside the door, although it did at least go on to clarify that was just if you were eating, whereas if you were only drinking you should proceed to the bar. We did, and certainly didn’t feel uncomfortable just having a drink, but then it was very quiet on our Tuesday afternoon visit. Beers on tap were Sharp’s Atlantic and Doom Bar, with two further pumps appearing unused. Ciders meanwhile were Stowford Press and Taunton First Press Medium which I’ve only seen in bottles previously and went down very well. Overall, whilst I’m not generally that keen on these all day multi-purpose type venues, I actually quite liked it here and certainly found it far preferable to their other Bristol outlet.

A modern restaurant/bar in a new development with the usual open kitchen. As ever, a restaurant rather than a pub but there are some tables by the bar which may be available for drinkers, and an extensive tabled area outside. Four handpumps carried Doom Bar and Atlantic, while a few craft lurked amongst the keg taps.

Official site of Bocabar Finzels Reach - www.bocabar.co.uk

Official site of Bocabar Finzels Reach - www.bocabar.co.uk